Romanoff scores endorsement from Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday endorsed Andrew Romanoff in Colorado’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary. Clinton celebrates Romanoff as a longtime Democratic Party stalwart, which runs counter slightly to the anti-Washington outsider campaign Romanoff is running against sitting senator Michael Bennet.

“I first met Andrew Romanoff in 1992, when he was a student at the Kennedy School of Government and I was a candidate for President,” Clinton wrote in an email to Romanoff supporters. “I was proud to carry Colorado in 1992, but you should be even prouder of what Andrew Romanoff did to turn the state blue. He worked harder than anyone in Colorado to put Democrats in positions of power — and to use that power to benefit every single citizen.”

Politico is reporting the endorsement as “part of Clinton’s long loyalty tour” in which he’s backing candidates who supported Hilary Clinton’s campaign for the Presidency in 2008– a sort of jab at Pres. Obama, who Bill Clinton famously railed against during the historic 2008 campaign.

In his endorsement letter, Clinton highlighted an economic recovery plan put together by Romanoff while he was Colorado Speaker of the House as well as Romanoff’s work on education funding and environmental protection.

He also said Romanoff brings an extraordinary record of public service and a unique capacity to lead.

“I believe that those assets, as well as his deep commitment to Colorado, give him the best chance to hold this seat in November. I support Andrew Romanoff, and I hope you will too.”

Bennet has long enjoyed the support of President Obama, who held fundraisers in the state for the Bennet campaign this spring.